Top 25 Survivor Contestants

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We pick our favorites among the smartest, toughest, nastiest and most manipulative players the game has seen.

By Eric Goldman & Chris Carle

Can you believe 182 people have now played the game of Survivor? Since its debut in 2000, the show that ushered in the reality show craze has maintained its spot as one of the most consistently entertaining and intriguing shows in and out of its genre. Nearly every season executive producer Mark Burnett throws in new twists and turns, but it always comes down to the casting. Most of the seasons seen as weaker (Thailand and Vanuatu, I'm looking at you) come down to overall weaker casts, though even there, some interesting people were included. One thing that's certain is that when you get the right mix of people on Survivor, the game flourishes.

As the 12th season comes to a close, we've set out to name The Top 25 Survivor Contestants the game has seen so far. It was a difficult list to create, as what makes a Survivor player memorable or "good" can run the gamut of so many things. Is it kicking ass at the challenges? Is it being the most deceptive? Is it being the most likable? Can being the most disliked player be a sound strategy? The answer is, it can be any of those things, a combination of them or something else entirely that sets you apart. As we've seen through the years, there are many different ways to play the game and to be successful at it. We're sure you'll disagree with some of our choices; our number one pick alone is a person who has proven to be incredibly divisive among the fans. We understand, as there were disagreements among the staff coming up with the list and regarding who should be placed where. But we see these disagreements as part of the fun of being a passionate Survivor fan.

To those who might say that all the winners should automatically have top slots: As it is, nearly every winner is represented here, but there was one thing we all agreed on at IGN -No one wanted to include Vecepia. Seriously&#Array; She won? Who?

25. Jerri Manthey: Jerri's game was vicious and innovative. She basically got Kel ousted with a nasty little rumor about beef jerky, a bold lie that he could not refute. Although Manthey's run ended badly on both seasons in which she appeared, she set a lot of precedents for future reality stars, including posing for Playboy and appearing on The Surreal Life. -CC

24. Twila Tanner: Twila could certainly rub people the wrong way, but you had to hand it to the feisty highway repairwoman, as she surprised many and made it to the final two. Though part of the all-woman's alliance, Twila was not content to let herself be on the low end of the totem pole when it came to the power structure. To that end, she went to Chris with a bold plan that included getting incredibly unlikely allies like Eliza and Scout to work together, and helped turn the tables on would be leader Ami. At the end her fellow contestants held her to an unfair and horribly severe standard, judging her for breaking promises she'd made on her son's life. But Twila was simply playing the game and playing it well. -EG

23. Elizabeth Hasselbeck (nee Filarski): This spot should really go to the team of Elizabeth and Roger, as through force of cuteness and sentimentality, the two forged through the wilds of Australia in Survivor's second season. Unlike Roger, Elizabeth's cheeky goodness and general likeability won her something more lasting than a million dollars&#Array;a spot on The Look For Less, which led to her being selected to appear regularly on The View. Appearing daily on a couch in a warm, well-lit studio and marrying an NFL quarterback&#Array; or&#Array; staying a few more nights out in the weeds to win money. You make the call. Of all the Survivors, Elizabeth has turned her opportunity into the most exposure now that her game has concluded. -CC

Cirie quietly waits to strike on Survivor: Exile Island

22. Cirie Fields: When someone declares they're "afraid of leaves" on the very first episode, you know they're a goner. And Cirie seemed destined to go early, lacking any obvious physical or survival skills that could be seen as a benefit. Yet on that same first episode, she somehow managed to turn the tide so that one of the most beneficial women, Tina, was voted out instead of her. She still seemed to be on borrowed time, and soon after was flat out told that she would be going very soon. But Cirie was a real player in ways no one could guess, and as her tribe, Casaya, disintegrated into in-fighting, she managed to play the part of the easygoing outsider, who stayed out of the fray and let the other's explosive personalities cause them to turn on each other. It seemed Cirie was forgotten, as others were voted out one after another. But she wasn't just sitting by, she was forming a crucial alliance with Aras --the very person who told her she'd be gone initially-- and eventually, we got to see just how crafty Cirie was, as she managed to dupe perceived power players like Shane and Terry, and manipulated crucial votes to go her way. No one would have ever guessed Cirie would make it to the final four, and though I'm not sure as I write this how much further she'll go, this accomplishment alone is worth celebrating. -EG